CubeSats, tiny satellites weighing around 4 pounds (2 kilograms), are transforming space exploration by providing a cost-effective and efficient means to conduct scientific research. These compact devices typically focus on a singular scientific objective, making them accessible to a wide range of organizations, including startups and universities.
The advantages of CubeSats over traditional larger satellites are substantial. They are cheaper to develop and launch, allowing for more frequent missions with reduced risk. CubeSats are deployed as part of a larger spacecraft's payload, released into space via a spring mechanism. Once operational, they complete their missions by burning up upon re-entry.
For instance, a team of students at Brown University created a CubeSat for under $10,000 to study space debris, which was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX rocket in May 2022. While the first satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched in 1957, the current landscape features around 10,000 active satellites, with only a small fraction dedicated to space exploration.
CubeSats are now pivotal in studying distant planets and celestial phenomena, providing valuable data at a fraction of the cost of traditional satellites. For example, NASA's Artemis I mission in November 2022 launched 10 CubeSats to map lunar water, crucial for sustaining human presence on the Moon. Similarly, the MarCO CubeSats served as communication relays during NASA's Insight lander mission to Mars in 2018.
Future CubeSat missions, such as HERA and M-Argo, are set to further expand our understanding of asteroids and exoplanets. HERA will explore the Didymos asteroid system in October 2024, while M-Argo, launching in 2025, will independently study an asteroid's characteristics.
The rapid advancements and investments in CubeSat technology may pave the way for humanity's journey toward becoming a multiplanetary species, emphasizing the importance of nurturing the next generation of scientists.